Hello everyone!!
I am having issues with my brakes on my Ford Ranger 2001. The ABS light came on & off a few weeks ago, but not gave it much interest until now. My rear brakes have locked and can't get it to release, plus the ABS light is staying on all the time. I have changed out the rear brake sensor with no effect what so ever.
I could really use some help here, not going to drive it the way it is until I find out the problem and repair it.
Thanks,
coolmack

 

Welcome to the forum

ABS light comes on for a few reasons

First, ABS releases brake pressure, it can not apply brake pressure, so can not lock up any wheel

When ABS detects rear wheel lock up it releases/lowers brake fluid pressure on the rear brake line, by pulsing the pressure the DRIVER is applying on the brake pedal
So you will feel a pulsing in the brake pedal when ABS is actively lowering pressure.

Same for Front wheel ABS although it has separate sensors on each wheel.

Your rear brakes locking up are strictly a rear brake issue not ABS issue.
As said ABS can't apply pressure only release pressure

I would open rear wheel slave bleeder to see if there is pressure in the system, there should be no pressure in a brake system any where if brake pedal is not being pushed down.

Close bleeder then have someone pump the brake pedal then release it, open bleeder again, there should be NO squirt of fluid, if so then something is preventing pressure from going back to Master cylinder.

ABS monitors brake fluid level, brake light on/off and brake pressure, so could be ABS light is on because brake light is off but pressure is still present

 

Pulled the fuse to the ABS and the rear brakes unlocked, and I do have brakes normally now, but if I put the fused back in the rears brakes lock up and sound like the whole rear axle is about to fall out.
Right now I am driving it with the fused removed, dealership wants $3,000 to fix it.

 

Do you have 4 wheel ABS or rear ABS?

Module is bad, wrecking yard or ebay

 

4-wheel ABS

 

Turned out be be that the problem was with my rear brakes. Did a lot of damage to one side, had to have a new hub and new brake shoes and the works on the rear wheels.